Ironman Austin Race Recap

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Day Before the Race:  Check in went pretty fast despite the horror stories of how long the lines can be.  I had to sign a bunch of releases saying I wouldn't sue anyone if I died.  Picked up my race stickers, timing chip, and race t-shirt.  It was the same as some races and completely different because it's an ironman race.  They shuttle you out of the pickup area into the ironman store.  You gotta load up on some stuff there.  I bought a tri jersey, bike jersey, bike shorts, some car stickers, and a few things for Patty and Lance.  They got an Ironman Support Crew t-shirt and a few other things.  Got stung at the register but it's worth it.  Walked around the expo for awhile checking out the stuff for sale.  They give you bags to put your gear in.  We went back to the truck and sorted all of my stuff into bike gear and run gear bags.  I went to the T2 transition area and hung my bag on my designated rack position.  I was on the very end of the aisle which was really cool.  There is lots of room to work with on the end.  After dropping the run gear, we had to drive to the lake where the T1 transition area was located.  I unloaded my bike and bike gear bag and put everything in the transition area.  My spot would be tougher to find and there wasn't much room to manuever in there.  My bike gear back was really packed.  It was going to be cold and I loaded up several layer options depending on the weather.  There were lots of stickers in the grass and someone was letting everyone know to carry your bike and check the tires for stickers.  Good thing I checked, there were alot of thorns in my tires.  After dropping the bike, we drove the bike course.  Lots of rolling hills but it was not any different than my rides through Argyle and Bartonville.  The roads were really bad in spots and there was some chipseal to deal with.  More than anything, it was really windy on Saturday from the north but things were supposed to calm down for the race.  We got some BBQ at a little hole in the wall place and then headed back to the hotel.  I rested for a few hours and then Patty and I went to Texas Land and Cattle for dinner at 5pm.  Jeff suggested I finish dinner by 5 or 6.  I had steak and a baked sweet potato.  Protein and carbs.  Alabama was on TV at 7:45 and I watched about half the game and then fell asleep.  I did not sleep well at all.  The hotel was having a halloween party and drunks were roaming the halls.  I don't think it would have mattered.  I was pretty nervous.

RACE DAY:  I finally fell asleep where you sleep hard at 2am and woke up at 4:45.  I intended to be up by 4:30.  Jeff said to try and get about 3 Clif bars in my system.  I was only able to eat one.  My stomach was not willing to take food in.  I took my arthritis medication along with a potassium pill.  Anyone that races understands the importance of emptying your system.  I tried to get that done as well.  We left for the race site at about 5:30am.  It was about 40 degrees outside and fairly calm winds.  We had to park at the expo center where T2 was located and the finish at the arena.  I went to the portolet one more time and we had to catch a bus to the lake.  They give you a morning bag that includes dry clothes and whatever you need after the race.  I thought we dropped that at the T2 area but they said to take it to the lake.  We caught the bus and I rode next to a guy from Dallas who was 63 and doing his first HIM as well.  Nice guy.  Once we got to the lake and unloaded, I checked my bike tires one more time and then put my two bottles of Accelerade on the bike.  I was wearing my triathlon shorts and a hoodie.  It was really cold.  Patty and Lance grabbed a few breakfast burritos.  The smell of the grease and the eggs was making me sick so we had to find somewhere to go.  Eventually, we found a group of people holed up in the back of a truck like a bunch of hobos.  It was out of the wind and warmer than standing outside.  I got into my wetsuit in the truck.  Here I am inside the truck:

My stomach was a nervous wreck and I made one more run to the bathroom and then headed to the lake.  I found my group in our flourescent green caps.  We were set to start at 7:45.

 



I didn't have shoes on and my feet were going numb waiting to get in the water.  You have to go through a specific gate to get in the water and have your timing chip register.  Everyone was really wanting to get in the water.  The water temperature was 71 degrees.  Typically, 71 degree water is cold.  When it is 40 degrees outside, the water felt awesome.  Everyone was so happy when we got in the water.  The sun had just come up and you couldn't see the red buoy where you turn from the water.  It was just a long string of yellow buoys.  There were about 150-175 in my wave.  It was all of the 45-49 year old men.  The guys around me were all really cool.  I lined up close to the front but on the right, farthest away from the buoys.  I figured most of the really fast guys would go there and I would stay outside hoping to find clean water and stay out of the washing machine.  This was the most civil start to any race I have done.  I put my head down and started swimming.  All of the buoys were on my left.  I have a tendency to vere to the right.  I sighted every 20 strokes or so.  I used the kayaks to sight.  I breathe to the right so I wasn't watching the buoys at all.  I definitely added distance to my swim by doing it this way, but I stayed away from people for the most part.  It seemed like the first red buoy was never going to come.  Right before I got to the first turn, I started picking up quite a few red hats from the wave before mine.  It was a little crowded from the first to second turn.  I was passing lots of people.  Once I hit the second red buoy, it was time to head for home.  The sun was behind me so I could see the shore clearly.  I passed a few Lt. Blue caps which were two waves ahead of me on the last leg.  I got passed by a few people in the wave behind me in the last few hundred yards.  I was making pretty good time by my standard.  It was a little hard to find the swim exit but I got out ok.  My legs were a little wobbly.  One of the volunteers unzipped my wetsuit for me and I headed to the wetsuit strippers.  The guy pulled the wetsuit off my legs and I immediately cramped in my right hamstring.  Not what I really expected and I was definitely worried about it getting on the bike.  By the time I got to my bike I could not feel my feet at all.  They were numb.  I decided to put everything I had in the bag on.  I hate being cold and I wasn't all the interested in transition times, I just wanted to be comfortable.

Minding the thorns in the ground, I carried my bike to the road.  I think I was in transition for about 10 minutes.  Some hard core guys were not putting much on, but if they wanted to suffer so be it.  The winds had actually picked up alot.  It had to be blowing 10-15 from the north.  Another reason to be warm.  I hit the mount line and it was on.

When the wind blows, it feels like you fight it, no matter which direction you travel.  Jeff cautioned me to conserve energy on the ride and resist the temptation to stay with people who would be passing me.  The first thing I did was have a gel and started drinking the accelerade.  I was worried about the hamstring cramp.  I could have ridden much faster but I was conservative.  It was hard to do.  I rolled through the first aid station and didn't need anything yet.  Jeff asked me to take a gel every 25 minutes, and I stayed right on that plan for the entire ride.  I took a bottle of water at the second aid station and threw away one of my bottles.  The mess at these aid stations is really hard to vision unless you are there.  They only had water and Ironman Perform.  I haven't trained with Ironman Perform so I didn't have any.  I drank the second bottle of Accelerade and traded the water for an Ironman Perform at the next aid station.  I drank a little of that stuff but it sucked.  At about 30-40 miles, things really bogged from a mental perspective.  I started doing calculations in my mind about how far and how long.  Dumb stuff like that.  Things that provide no benefit to the ride.  I also started to get sick of eating honey stingers.  Eating that often was starting to make me dread every 25 minutes, which was good and bad.  Instead of worrying about how far I had to go, I was more concerned with how long until the next gel.  The Ginsting variety was killing me.  Vanilla was good and my pomegranate was gone early.  The Gold was ok too.  The other odd thing was the consistency.  In the cold weather, it was thicker like a GU instead of a stinger.  The last rest stop was at about mile 48.  I had to stop and pee.  Just couldn't make it until T2.  One bonus of stopping was getting a GU.  They had some Roctane there and it really boosted my spirits to not have to eat another stinger.  I was very happy.  It was a steady climb into the wind back to the expo center.  They put us on circuitous route back to T2.  Every time you thought you were close, there was another twist and turn.  I could see the runners and we passed a section of the run course on the way in.  I was very happy to get off that bike.  My run bag was the farthest away as you can get but I was right next to the run out.  Patty and Lance were right next to my rack spot so it was good to see them again.  My mind wasn't exactly right so they were able to help me get out of my bike gear.  I forgot a few things and they were able to help me.

676 is me so I am on the end of the rack.  Here are some shots of me getting out of my bike gear.  Lots of layers.

Transformation into a runner was complete.  I was ready to roll.  I had to clean up my stuff and put it back in the bag first.

On the way out they had people ready to lather you up with sunscreen.  Good thing as my face was getting sunburned and I was looking at a couple hours on the road running.

Out on the road now on my first lap of three.  There were alot of people lining the barrier close to the arena.  Really cool.  Your name is on your number so many are calling you by name.  Once I hit the first hill, my stomach felt a little funky.  I dove into one of the portolets for a minute.  Nothing there, it was just my gut starting to ache from the effort.  Jeff wanted me to take the first lap very slow and see how I felt from there.  I took his advice.  I had intended on running five minutes and walking one minute until the first lap was complete.  However, my pace was slow and I didn't feel like walking so I didn't.  I had honey stingers with me but I couldn't bear the thought of opening one.  I did walk through the aid stations and drank water.  I was careful to get water in my system.  I didn't want a melt down like the race in Waco.  The aid stations had GU.  Thank god.  The aid stations were almost every mile.  I figured I was running about 10 minute miles so I would eat a GU every 3 miles and water every mile.  The first loop really hurt alot.  When I entered the run course, alot of the faster people were on the course and I was getting passed alot.  It was a little defeating but I had to stay within myself and run the way I needed to.  When I reached the arena I was looking for Lance and Patty.  They asked me how I was doing and I told them it hurt alot.  Seeing all of the people at the barriers by the arena was nice.  Everyone was yelling and it gives you a little boost.  Here I am on the first lap:

After I cleared the barriers and started the second lap, a funny thing happened.  I settled in nicely and got into a very good rhythm.  I didn't really hurt that bad and I was turning 9:00-9:30 miles.  I kept the gel plan and water plan in motion.  I started to get a cramp in my calf coming up the big hills on the second lap.  At that point, I decided to drink water and Gatorade at every stop.  The second lap was definitely good.  I was holding pace with everyone out there and was starting to pass quite a few people.  Since everyone follows the same route coming and going, there are certain people that stick in your memory and you see them twice per loop.  Strange as to who sticks out in your mind and who doesn't.  When I got back to the arena, there was this tall guy in a green wig, green cape and a green speedo giving out performance enhancing hugs.  He was busy on my second lap but I was definitely getting one on my last lap into the arena.  I knew where Patty and Lance were from my first lap but I definitely needed to see them again and was looking all over for them.  They were in the same place, of course.  Here is a few shots of me on the second lap.

As I started the third lap, I knew I was going to make it.  My stomach hurt deep down.  I have never really felt like that.  I was not going to stop and walk.  Never, at this point.  I was going to fight through it.  I was drinking water and Gatorade.  Pouring water on my head and eating GU.  I stuck to the ones with the Cherry Lime.  It was really good for some reason.  When you hit the park on the run, you run some jeep trails.  There is a section that looks like the turn around, but it isn't.  This was definitely painful on the third lap.  Right about there, I really started to hurt alot.  The signs mark each mile.  I remember seeing the 8 mile marker but not the 9th.  I couldn't remember where I was for awhile.  There were alot of people walking or going slow at this point.  I was passing people at a pretty good pace.  I was hoping to see a mile sign and looking at my watch to calculate the remaining distance.  I pretty much skipped the last two aid stations.  I wanted this over.  In the 12th mile there are two very large uphill climbs.  I knew once I topped the last one, it was in the bag.  My last mile was slow (probably 11 minutes) and mile 12 took alot out of me.  I thought about what it would be like to go into the arena.  It made me choke up a little bit and I had to get control of myself.  It was important that I finish this right.  I thought I had a chance at 6:15:00 at one point.  That was gone but 6:30:00 was a reality.  In mile 13, I didn't really care.  I got a hug from performance enhancing hug guy.  Felt great and I wish I had a picture of that.  It was really nice to stay to the right and go to the arena instead of going left.  I went right and looped around to the back of the arena.  I could see the big Ironman arch with the time on it.  I thought about this alot over the past 8 months.  I slowed up a little to find a spot where I would be by myself going across the line.  Once I entered the arena, I heard the PA guy announce my name.

My watch said around 6:25 but my race time was 6:34:23.  Maybe my autopause was enabled for some reason or maybe I was just seeing things.  Doesn't really matter.  I was very happy and the time was irrelevant.  The people at the finish were very cool.  I got a finishers medal, a headsweat hat, and one of those space age looking blankets.  They work by the way. 

I felt like Rocky looking for Adrienne after the race.  I was looking for Patty and Lance and couldn't find them.  Suddenly, I turned around and there they were.  It was great to get a hug from them.  I went to get a BBQ sandwich but was barely able to eat it.  My jaws would cramp up when I took a bite.  It took awhile to gather everything up and get out of there.  It was real painful walking everywhere.  When we were finally able to get in the truck and leave, it was a big relief.  I had enough forethought to bring a trash bag, in case I had to throw up on the way home.  I didn't need it though.  I checked my phone about halfway home.  It was great to get the texts, phone calls and facebook posts from everyone.  It is a solitary sport but you can't really do this on your own.  It truly takes alot of help from many people to do this kind of thing.  You have to dedicate your heart and soul to many months of training to do this right.  I learned a lot from this.  I don't know where I go from here.  I'll probably do another half for sure.  I don't know about a full.  Jeff says you need a solid 9 months to adequately train for a full.  I'm not really going to concern myself with that right now.  I will take a full week off.  I woke up at 5:00am just like every day but I wasn't moving today.  In the end, it was a great experience.  You learn alot about yourself in something like this.  Character isn't built when things are going good.  Character is built when you have to react to times of crisis.  It is the true measure of what you are about.  I feel great about me today.  I planned, prepared, and fought through this.  I had alot help and it is important to honor those that help you along the way.  I took an old white bracelet I received at a race somewhere.  I turned it over and wrote the names of my family and friends that helped me get ready for this.  I posted it on facebook and looked at it alot during the run.  I reminded myself to not let them down even though they would be ok with the outcome, no matter how it ended.  Anything that gives you motivation is a good thing.  So one last thank you to my wife Patty, my daughter Meghan, my son Lance, my triathlon sensei Jeff, my neighbor Justin, my Northshore running buddies Joe and the Matrix.  Their names were all on here.  I had one other bracelet that Joe gave me when his wife was battling breast cancer.  There is probably nothing tougher than battling cancer and that is motivation all by itself.  So, I carry Joe's wife Kim with me as well.  This is nothing compared to what she has gone through.  The only bad thing about today is giving back my race wheels.  They are so bad ass!